R'Bonney Gabriel, winner of the Miss Texas USA pageant, is the new Miss USA. The 28-year-old model and designer won the beauty crown Monday night at the pageant held in Reno, Nev. Gabriel, of Filipino heritage on her father's side, was the first Filipino-American woman to represent Texas in the pageant.
She replaces Elle Smith, Miss USA 2021, and becomes the 10th contestant from Texas and first since 2008 to win Miss USA. The new Miss USA will represent the stars and stripes in the 71st edition of Miss Universe 2022, to be held in January 2023 in New Orleans.
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Gabriel, a fashion designer, designed her Miss USA interview outfit herself as a tribute to her parents.
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Hispanic presence at the event
Angeliz 'Angel' Reyes, of Puerto Rican ancestry, made her presence felt in the competition, advancing all the way to the final. She represented the state of Illinois and placed as the fourth runner-up in the competition. This is how she showed her Hispanic pride a few days ago:
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Morgan Romano of North Carolina was first runner-up, Natalie Pieper of Nebraska was second runner-up and Sir'Quora Carroll of Ohio was third runner-up.
